MediaMarkt and Saturn Test Delivery with E-Cargo Bikes

The electronics retailers MediaMarkt and Saturn are expanding their service offerings with a CO2-neutral delivery option as part of a pilot project. Selected Saturn and MediaMarkt stores in Berlin and Cologne are now offering product deliveries using various e-cargo bikes and e-trailers. In Berlin, customers can also rent e-trailers themselves.

(Ingolstadt/Berlin/Cologne) According to figures from the Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV), the sale of cargo bikes with electric drive has steadily increased in Germany in recent years. No wonder, as cargo bikes are an affordable and environmentally friendly means of transport that allows for quick travel from A to B, especially in large cities. The aspects of sustainability and speed, along with the growing popularity among end consumers, have prompted MediaMarkt and Saturn to test e-cargo bikes in a pilot project initially planned for three months in two major German cities. Starting now, different e-cargo bikes and e-trailers will be used for product deliveries in selected stores in Berlin and Cologne. In Berlin, customers can also rent an e-trailer themselves to transport their purchases home.

Speed and Sustainability as Aspects

E-cargo bikes and e-trailers are particularly suitable for shorter distances in large cities to transport larger products quickly, affordably, and environmentally friendly. To test which models are best suited for this purpose, how well and quickly deliveries work, how the delivery option is received by customers and employees, and how great the interest is among customers in renting an e-trailer themselves, MediaMarkt and Saturn are now launching a pilot project designed for three months. “Speed and sustainability are two aspects that are becoming increasingly important in our delivery process. Therefore, we are constantly testing new options to provide our customers with the best possible service while also protecting the environment,” says Jörg Bauer, Co-COO at MediaMarktSaturn Germany. “With the e-cargo bikes, we can offer our customers a climate-neutral delivery service – depending on the order, even on the same day – and thus meet the demands for speed and sustainability perfectly. We are curious to see how the cargo bikes and trailers perform in our business operations and how the e-trailer rental offer is received by our customers.”

CO2-Neutral Delivery of Electronics

The markets participating in the pilot project include the Saturn at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, the Saturn stores on Maybachstraße and Hohen Straße in Cologne, as well as the MediaMarkt on Hohen Straße in Cologne. A total of four different models from three different manufacturers will be tested. These include the e-cargo bike Ono from the manufacturer Onomotion with container modules that can be flexibly exchanged via the integrated ramp in the vehicle and pre-commissioned in the warehouse, as well as the Loadster from Citkar, which also features a container box with ample storage space (even a Euro pallet fits here). Additionally, two e-trailers from Nüwiel will be used – one with a container box and one with an open loading area. The models are distributed differently among the markets. The e-cargo bikes will be used for both B2C and B2B orders in the respective market as well as for online orders. The e-trailers will be used at Saturn at Alexanderplatz in Berlin for the delivery of B2B orders and can also be directly rented to customers – even free of charge for a period of four hours during the pilot phase. Requirements for delivery via e-cargo bike or e-trailer are that the ordered goods can be transported with them and that the delivery address is within the respective catchment area. Particularly convenient is that the emission-free delivery option also allows for same-day deliveries.
Photo: © MediaMarktSaturn